“What made you think of doing such a thing?” What motive could they have had? Consider these clues. They didn’t sell their house; they sold a field. Having a field is not nearly as common as having a house. They were richer than most folks. They didn’t just bring the money to the apostles; they... Continue Reading

“You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.’   Hebrews 6.19,20: We... Continue Reading

As the day darkens, fear creeps in, even to the minds of faithful believers. The discussion about dying is uncomfortable. It is difficult. Sometimes you don’t want to talk about it because you do not want to think about your own passing. What do we need to say?   Yesterday I was in the room... Continue Reading

Can you imagine what it will be like to be “swallowed up by life”—to be surrounded by and saturated with life? The meal we could only faintly taste in moments of praying or laughing or marveling at a sunrise will be a feast set before us. “Then we will know fully, even as we have... Continue Reading

In this time between the inauguration and consummation of God’s new creational kingdom, Christians aren’t called to sit idly by, waiting for Jesus to come in the clouds. Neither are believers called to help usher in the new creation by their own works on this earth.   Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God numerous... Continue Reading

Resist this temptation! Sometimes the next steps are obvious, and instead of spending time checking boxes, we should direct our prayer and planning toward the clear application.   If you need refreshment or encouragement, schedule some time with a new Christian. The recently-reborn often have a clarity and passion lacking in those who are older... Continue Reading

I asked the person in crisis to imagine a very long rope stretched across a very large stage. The rope represented their life. What they were going through now was only a few inches of the rope.   Over the years, I have counseled a lot of people in my role as minister and as... Continue Reading

In our cultural moment, when lives are senselessly ended as in the case of Iryna Zarutska and Charlie Kirl, zeal for truth and righteous anger are appropriate, but often in short supply. The temptation for Christians is either to remain silent in the face of falsehood or to lash out with cultural weapons of hostility.... Continue Reading

In their quest to gain approval in the church, supporters minimize their affirmation of homosexual sexual relations and focus on a claim to practice celibacy. At the same time, they openly identify with practicing homosexuals by continuing to support the LGBTQ+ ideology. This stratagem is an intent to be found acceptable and approved.  However, the... Continue Reading

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 (NLT) Abba is the source of all blessings, and he designed things so that blessings should flow from him through earthly fathers to their... Continue Reading